Chain structure



March 27, 1951 D. J. MOINTOSH ET AL CHAIN STRUCTURE Original Filed Feb.16, 1948 INVENTORS DONALD J. McINTOSH y MITCHELL SMITH ATTORNEYSPatented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATE s PATENT oFFl-CE CHAIN STRUGTUREDonald J; 'Mclntosh and Mitchell; Smith, Detroit, Micln; 's'aid McIntoshassignor to saidSmith Original application February 16; 1948,Serial--No.--

8,564. Divided and this application-June 13,- 1949,- Serial No. 98,734

3 Claims. I

The present: inventio relates to chain struc= in the figures ascomprising pivot pins Hi and? IT ture' and more specificallyto chainstructure" oi'a "sprocket chain; c )w j'i'he' res'ent invention is adivisionof: cur cm pendingjapplication, Serial 8,664, filed February 16;1948.

It' is an object of' the present invention to providea'chain of thes'prockettype adapted to be separated between adjacent links a simplemanual operation;

' More specifically, it is anobject'of the present invention to" providea sprocket chain having thereof by means forseparating the chain betweenadjacent" links, the separation being 'renderedpossible' bypins, eachpivot pin being --perzhanently attached atone end'to cheer the outsidelink plates and being detachably 'connectedtothe other outside linkplate of the pair.

Still more specifically, it is an object of the present invention toprovidea chain of the character described in which abutmentmeans areprovided betweenadjacent inside and "outside link plates which preventseparation of the chain under operating conditions.

It is a further object of the present-invention a to provide a chain ofthe character described, characterized by the simplieityof thestructure, the fact that the chain elements I may beformed from sheetmaterial-by asi-mpl'e stamping opera-- tion, and'by' theease ofconnection and discord-- nection of thegchain' elements.-

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a chain.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of some of the elements illustrated inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33, Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings the chain cornprises a series of pairs ofinside link plates, one pair comprising the link plates in and II andthe adjacent pair of inside link plates being indicated at I2 and I3.Associated with the pairs of inside link plates just described is anintermediate pair of outside link plates !4 and 15.

Means are provided at one point in a continuous sprocket chain of thecharacter described providing for ready manual separation between linksof the chain and this means is illustrated designed to facilitate.separation between links 'plate I4 is permanently connected to thepivot'- Referring now particularly to Figure '2, each of the link platesin and H comprises an elongated fiat metal element having a circularopen.- ing 2n formed adjacentone end thereof; The end of the plates 10and H is circular in shape as indicated at ll. ijhe circular endsur'faceof the plates in and [I is eccentric wi'threspect to thecircular opening2|], this eccentricity being illustrated by the lines 2'2 and 23indicating the centers and radii of curvature of the circular" openingZOandthe circular end surface'il respectively. The inside link plate [3 asillustrated inthis figure, is of similar conformation.

The intermediate outside link plates M and" 15 are illustrated inFigurez' as comprising flat elongated metallic strips having at one "endan enlarged circular opening '25 which is preferably" concentric withrespect to the rcunccnd 26" thereof, and a smallercircular' opening" 28adjacent the opposite end of the outside link plates Adjacent theenlarged o ening 25'.

*5 and. l6. 7 (and if desired also adjacent the smaller 'cifcular.opening 28) are aIQ'u'tiiieYii'Js' Sliwhioh are struck out of thematerial of the outside li'hk j plates [4: a'n'd'lEQ Accordlng'toone'forrn of the present invention each of the pins I6 and l! maybedetachable" from both Of the outside link plates i4 and (5,

ferred to make a permanent assembly of each:

of the outside link plates-1J4 and I5 and one' of the pivot pins I sendIl. Thu'sas seen-in Figure link plate I5. In like manner, the outsidelink pin I1.

-'I-'ne principal purpose of making a' ermanent connection between theelements just described is so that when the chain is disassembled theparts are easier to handle as will be readily apparent.

Preferably, each of the pins l6 and I1 comprises an enlarged centralcylindrical portion 35, a reduced neck portion 36 adjacent the free endthereof, and an enlarged head portion 38 which is of a size to passfreely through the enlarged circular openings 20 provided adjacent theends of the inside link plates l0, ll, I2 and I3. The enlarged centralportion 35 of the pins constitutes a support for cylindrical rollersleeves 40 which may be provided in the assembled chain.

As best seen in Figure 3, when the parts are assembled the pins. I6 andl! are retained against disengagement from outside link plates l4 and inwhich case-the link plates '14 and i5" wcuidf beers-vised witnemargedci'rc i iarcpenmgs respectively by engagement of the headed portions 38thereof against the outside surface of such plates. Moreover, theabutments 30 which are disposed to confront the rounded end portions 2|of the inside link plates, prevent shifting of the outside link platesto a position in which the enlarged openings 25 therein will registerwith the headed portions 38 at the free ends of the pivot pins.

In order to connect or disconnect the chain the pair of outside plates[4 and I5 are angularly disposed with respect to one or the other of theadjacent pairs of inside link plates. This has the effect of moving theabutment 30 around the circular end portion 2| to a point at which it ismore closely adjacent to the center of the circular opening 20. Thispermits shifting of the pair of outside plates I4 or IS with respect tothe pivot pinjorpins sothat the enlarged heads 38 may be brought intoregistry with the enlarged circular openings 20, atwhich time theoutside link plates l4 and I5 together with the pivot pins respec-'tively attached thereto, may be moved outwardly away from each other outof association with the pairs of inside link plates.

" It will be appreciated that in normal usage the angularity between theinside link plates and the adjacent outside link plates isrelativelysmall and that by a proper selection of eccentricity becomprisesessentially a plurality of flat link elements which maybe veryeconomically manufac tured by stamping. The abutment 30 provided on theoutside'link plates may be formed at the same time in a single operationand the chain thus'is extremely economical'to produceand may be readilyconnected and disconnected by simple manual operation.

.The drawings and the vforegoing specification constitute a descriptionof'the improved chain structure in such full, clear, concise and exactterms as to enable. any person skilled 'in the art to practicetheinvention', the scope of which is plates having rounded ends "andcircular open ings adjacent to said ends, the centers of said openingsbeing spaced inwardly of the plates from the centers of curvature of therounded ends, spacers intermediate the ends of said inside plates,linking structure for interconnection between adjacent pairs of insideplates and spacers companion assembly, said outside plate having astruck-out abutment shaped to confront the rounded end of the adjacentinside plate so as to prevent separation of said linking structure whenin alignment with adjacent inside plates.

2. A roller chain comprising a pair of spaced links, each of whichcomprises a pair of inside link plates having pin-receiving openingsadjacent their ends, said openings being located a greater distance fromthe ends of said inside plates than from edge'portions angularly spacedfrom said ends, headed pins extending through said openings, outsideplates having openings at their ends for receiving said pins, at leastone of the openings of each of said plates being large enough to passthe head of the adjacent pin and to engage thereunder, andstruck-outabutments on said outside plates cooperable with the ends of said insideplates to retain said outside plates engaged under the heads of saidpins when said plates are aligned, and to permit'separation between saidoutside plates and pinsflwhen said' plates are angularly disposed.

3. For use in roller chain structure, an article of manufacturecomprising a fiat sheet having .an opening adjacent other end largeenough' to .pass the free end offthe pin of a like member, and astruck-out abutment on said plate adjacent the opening therein.

DONALD J. MCINTOSH. MITCHELL SMITH.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record .in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,071 Jacquet Apr. 20, 18971,429,518 McMahon Sept. 19, 1922 1,464,267 Harrison Aug. 7, 1923 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 34,581 France Feb. 26, 1929

